September 2005 - Writers Magazine

The Authors Guild of America, with four authors, has taken the extraordinary step of filing a class action suit against Google over its unauthorised scanning and copying of books through its Google Library programme. News Review has the story.

46,000 unpublished writers entered Richard and Judy's How To Get Published competition - but seven authors 'won' a contract. News Review reports.

'Enter the big bad wolf, in the form of major competitor Waterstone’s, with an offer of 440p ($8.09), pitched 40p ($.735) higher than the MBO offer.' News Review looks at the battle for Ottakar's.

Worldwide publishing deals have been achieved for an author who is still only sixteen and for a redundant globe-trotting graphic designer. News Review looks at the latest breakthroughs on the children's front.

'We need to broaden, not narrow, the gates through which new books, new authors and new ideas must pass before readers can find them.' Anthony Cheetham in the Bookselller on why we need an independent Ottakar's

'Though twice as many women as men are writing, they are 50 per cent less likely to send off their manuscripts to publishers or agents, or to apply for writing grants.' Debbie Taylor, Editor, in MslexiaStylish and lively site for quarterly UK literary magazine read by 12,000 'committed' women writers. Good range of quality writing, information and advice with news, reviews, competitions and interviews, all presented in a friendly fashion. Praised by Helen Dunmore as 'astute, invigorating and above all an excellent read.' www.mslexia.co.uk

'With perseverance, you can do anything you want. Just don't give up - you've got to stick with it. When I started writing I sold my first book very quickly. But after that, no one bought my next five books...' Danielle Steel

'We who earn our living by the pen hold the poets in especial awe. We know that in a hundred years’ time, when students of literature are saying "Eh? Martin Who? A N Who? Salman What Did You Say?, they will be reading Geoffrey Hill.' A N Wilson

'for women writers who take their writing quite seriously and are aiming at the more literary end of the spectrum but who want good practical advice, offered in an accessible and friendly way, Mslexia is perfect. '

For reviews of Writers' ForumBritish writers' magazine which is highly recommended for all writers. It features wide range of news and articles which help writers to improve their work and get published: www.writers-forum.com, Writer's Digest and Writers' News, see our writers' magazine review section.

Writing Handbooks

The third excerpt from this title from the A & C BlackClick for A & C Black Publishers Publishers References listingWriting Handbooks series looks at creating your lead and creating a character fact list:

'Your lead is your novel’s most important character, the hero or heroine of your story. Every novel needs a lead; a novel without a lead is like a movie without a star.'

Julia McCutchen, author of The Writer's Journey: From Inspiration to Publication joins WritersServices this week with the launch of our new Coaching service. This new service offers you the opportunity to develop your writing with the benefit of individual feedback, personal guidance and practical advice.

If you're wondering what exactly coaching is, Julia article shows you how individual coaching can help a writer by giving the opportunity to work with a publishing professional who has inside knowledge of what publishers and agents are looking for.

Julia believes that given the right circumstances, we can all access our true writer’s voice and have a deeply rewarding experience of writing.

The agents' listings from the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2006 go up on the site this week. There's the usual fully updated list of UK agents and also a new list of international agents, which range from Australia to Russia, from Germany to South Africa, and naturally includes a large section on American agents.

John Jenkins looks at Le Figaro's submission of Madam Bovary to 5 vanity publishers, not one of whom recognised it; the effect of Harry Potter on bookselling; the growth of desktop publishing; and the fact that reading makes more difference than anything to educational attainment:

'Surveys so far in Britain indicate that reading has a far greater bearing on academic success than economic and social factors.'